2012 NFL Draft: Projecting 7 Prospects Sure to Crash and Burn in the Pros

The process that turns a star draft prospect into a bust is one of the most interesting storylines in sports. Some—like Aaron Maybin—everyone saw coming. Others, like Brady Quinn, were widely considered to be future stars.

Logic suggests that a player can become a bust through a variety of methods. Perhaps like Vernon Gholston, formerly of the New York Jets, he lacked the passion to succeed. Or maybe he was like David Carr and suffered from a terrible situation.

Maybe the biggest bust from the 2011 draft won't be one of the ones we see coming, but in previous years, the biggest failure has often been predicted well in advance. This is a look at the guys who should be on your bust radar.

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples exploded into the national spotlight when, in 2010, he recorded 10 sacks. Many are in love with Coples due to his perfect size and excellent athletic ability.

However, Coples has disappeared far too often in 2011 and isn't making much of an impact. The 6'6" 285-pounder seems like he should be dominating, but it just isn't happening.

Part of this is because despite his athletic ability, Coples doesn't have a great first step. In the NFL, Coples will probably be good against the run, but he may never develop into the dominant pass-rusher people expect him to be.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

A lot of people like Reiff because of his athletic ability, but he doesn't play like a top 15 pick. The 6'6", 300-pounder can be dominated by stronger defensive ends, and he isn't particularly good in the run game.

Though Reiff would be aided by additional weight, his problems aren't purely because of his bulk. The former tight end displays raw technique and is in need of refinement.

Reiff is a good athlete who excels against speed rushers, but is simply too one-dimensional at this point. Widely considered the third best offensive tackle eligible for the 2012 draft, Reiff has high upside. Unfortunately, with high upside comes high risk.

Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

There are many things to like about Landry Jones. The 6'4", 230-pounder has a rocket arm to go with his prototype size. Few players produce better numbers, and though Oklahoma's spread offense may be the cause of this, Jones definitely can't be labeled an underachiever.

The downside about Jones is his erratic accuracy. Though Jones can make incredibly accurate throws down the field, he sometimes misses on the easiest of passes. Few players have the ability to make better and worse throws.

In Jones' defense, the Oklahoma offense is not a good fit for his strengths. While Jones thrives because of his arm strength and ability to make the difficult throws, the Sooner offense features short, quick throws.

Sam Bradford has proven that the Oklahoma's spread offense isn't a huge issue, but Jones' accuracy certainly is. The star quarterback could develop into an elite franchise player, but don't be surprised if he flops in a big way.

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Entering the 2011 college football season, Kirkpatrick was widely considered the top draft eligible defensive back. The 6'3" 190-pounder is a great athlete with tremendous playmaking ability and has the potential to dominate in the NFL.

Kirkpatrick's issues primarily stem from his height. Like many tall cornerbacks, Kirkpatrick doesn't have overly smooth hips and can struggle to run down the field in man coverage.

The Alabama cornerback is tremendous in zone coverage, however. In the right defensive scheme, Kirkpatrick can definitely play and excel at cornerback. Unfortunately, most schemes would require Kirkpatrick to spend a lot of time in man coverage, and he may have to move to safety in the NFL.

There is no reason to think Kirkpatrick can't be a great safety, but if a team drafts him to play cornerback, they could end up very disappointed in their investment.

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The 6'5" 350-pound Glenn is playing left tackle for the Bulldogs, and his flaws have been exposed. Many analysts love Glenn because of his overpowering strength and run-blocking ability.

However, many massive guards have been overrated in the past, and Glenn is another one of them. Though he is great when power blocking, Glenn isn't quick enough to do well in pass-protection. Glenn is also limited to a man-blocking scheme in the NFL, as he struggles immensely in the open field.

Though Glenn is currently projected in the first round by many, he is a player whose draft status could take a huge hit prior to the draft. Glenn is simply too limited athletically to be a highly valued draft prospect.

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Though Upshaw is widely considered to be one of the draft's best 3-4 outside linebacker prospects, he could end up playing a variety of positions in the NFL. The 6'2" 260-pounder is strong against the run, but doesn't seem to have the explosiveness to excel as a pass rusher.

Though Upshaw could really struggle if he is drafted into a 4-3 defense, that doesn't seem particularly likely. The Alabama linebacker is valued because he has played in a 3-4 defense already, and is capable of filling a number of roles.

Unfortunately, Upshaw just isn't a great threat off the edge. His style of play may actually be better suited at inside linebacker, and Upshaw is likely to disappoint if he is expected to excel at attacking the quarterback.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Though Adams is among the most physically talented offensive linemen in college football, he has disappointed at Ohio State. The 6'8" 310-pound left tackle is a phenomenal athlete with ideal arm length and possesses the frame to add more bulk.

However, Adams sometimes appears lazy and can be dominated by strong defensive ends. Adams needs to improve technically, but his ability to play left tackle will appeal to many teams.

The Ohio State lineman missed the first five games of the 2011 season, but has looked great since returning. Perhaps he is finally playing up to his ability.

Because he has the athletic ability to protect the blind side, Adams will be drafted with an early pick. However, it would be unwise to ignore Adams's prior struggles purely because of his natural ability.